Heat seamer



M y 1951 J. M. HUMPHREY I 0 HEAT SEAMER Filed Dec. 11, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

J. M HUMPHREY ATTORNEY 5 She ecs-Shee; 2

HEAT SEAMER J. M. HUMPHREY May 29, 1951 Filed Dec. 11, 1946 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Y E R H P M U H M 'w May 29, 1951 J. M. HUMPI -IREY HEAT SEAMER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 11, 1946 4 INVENTOR J M. HUMPHREY FIG. 5

ATTORNEY J. M. HUMPHREY HEAT SEAMER May 29, 1951 5 Sheets-:Sheet 4 FiledDec. 11, 1946 iiiiiiiid17);)2722iiiiiiillGiiii INVENTOR J. M. HUMPHREY ATTORNEY themselves.

Patented May 29, 1951 HEAT SEAMER James M. Humphrey, New Richmond, Wis., assignor to Doughboy Industries, Inc., NewRichmond, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 11, 1946, Serial No. 715,576

2 Claims.

This invention relates to heat sealing machines which can be freely transported and easily installed, as well as readily employed for applying to thermoplastic sheets or other bodies the desired amount of heat and pressure for uniting the same.

The invention relates more particularly to a heat seamer or a machine by means of which joints between sheets or other bodies may be made under the influence of controlled heat and pres sure and with or without the use of a binding strip.

Prior machines employed in the art of sealing or joining by the application of heat and pressure have been unsatisfactory for various reasons including their cost, size, weight and complexity of both structure and operation requiring a skilled person to operate, and were also lacking in certain essential or desirable features.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, practical, heat seamer of relatively light weight and small size, which can be used to efflciently and satisfactorily join sheets or bodies with or without employing a joining or binding strip in the joint, and in which the joint will be of the desired strength and pleasing appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seamer with mechanism for relieving the pressure between the sealing rolls when the material is between the rolls and is not being advanced, such mechanism serving to prevent injury tosuch material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine whichcan be operated continuously or intermittently with facility similar to the operation of a conventional sewing machine in order to accomplish the necessary or desired oper- Briefly stated, the invention comprises coopcrating intermeshing temperature and pressure controlled heat rolls mounted on horizontal axes adjacent a work table having conveyors thereon for sheets or the like to be joined as they are carried along the table. Also, there is provided structure for applying a solvent to a tape and for folding the tape around remote sides of the material as it passes between the heat rolls so that the joining operation is limited to that between the sheets and the strip and with no direct sealing together of the contacting surfaces of the sheets The invention likewise includes variable driving mechanism for controlling the speed of the heated rolls as desired or in accordance with requirements.

.The machine additionally includes an applicator of felt or other suitable capillary material for applying solvent in liquid form to the tape as well as retracting means for spacing the tape and the applicator when the tape is stationary in the machine so that the solvent does not act on the tape excessively.

In order to make the machine more flexible so that different pressures may be employed in joining materials of different characters and thick nesses, an adjustable weight or lever is employed for exerting pressure on one of the bearings of the rolls and with an elevating member to relieve the pressure of the weight and also the weight on the bearing.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view;

Fig. 2, a rear elevation;

Fig. 3, a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a detailed perspective of the tape folder;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary perspective of the folder and sealing roll;

Fig. 6, an isometric view of the solvent tank and dispenser;

' Fig. 7, a diagrammatic view of the linkage for controlling the contact between the tape and the solvent applicator;

Fig. 8, a diagrammatic view of the linkage for controlling the operation of the pressure applying means on the upper sealing roll;

Fig. 9, a side elevational view with parts in vertical section illustrating the pressure applying mechanism for the upper sealing roll;

Fig. 10, a fragmentary vertical section taken .on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11, a detail of the sealing rolls illustrating particularly the heat control means; and

Fig. 12, a wiring diagram of the electrical-circuit employed in the machine.

With continued reference to the drawings, upper and lower sealing rolls l0 and I I are mounted, respectively, on shafts l2 and I3 disposed one above the other in suitable bearings M in brackets l5 and [6 carried by longitudinal bars ll and 13 supported on transverse bars IT and i8 which are in turn supported by front and rear longitudinal frame members I9 and 20, respectively. These rolls in and H are provided with heating elements 2| and a heat controller 22, as disclosed .whiGh it issecuredby means of 'apivot bolt 48.

heat. and. pressuresunicient' 'tO: causetheflp ir tically slidable in a slot 23 in the bracket l6 which forms in effect a retaining guide for the bearing.

A lever 24 is pivoted on a post 25 of the bracket [6. This lever is provided with spaced notches 26 for the selective reception of a weight 2'! in order to providethe necessary variation in pressure on the bearing 14 and the shaft and supported upper roll. This is accomplished through the medium of a pin 28 slidably mounted in-a substantially vertical bore 29 above the axisof the shaft l2 beneath the lever 24 and near the 'pivoted end of the lever. The shafts lZandzl 3.are -of sufficient length to space the rolls-I9 andll' a substantial distance from the bracket t in order to provide an enlarged throat to .afford room for the material being processed.

A work table 33 is disposed transversely of the roll shafts l2 and I3 and is provided with spaced grooves- 3! disposed lengthwise along the-top of 20 the table and which constitute runways' forwoon- -vey0r' belts 32 which extend aroundpulleys- 33 fixedonfront and rear shafts 34 and T35: respectively, disposed one at each end of the table.

A sprocket 35 on the shaft 35- at'the discharge .-=e 1 1d ofithetable is driven' by achaint'l from a sprocket afiwon the lower feed roll II and the upper. run orthis.chain-is'retained inasubstantiallystraight. line :bymeans of an-idler Bilwvhich i. engages therbottom run of the chain,such-.id1er being carried; by a-bracket- 49'm0untedcon;:the rear v:frame member 28. While a chain is'described, a belt of other character-:maybeemplayed. Thel upper surface of the upperrun of .lthechain 31is disposedin substantially'the same horizontal position as-..the upper: surface of the conveyor belts 32 and accordinglyaassists in conveying material operated.upon-toward the'discharge end of the table.

A seam binder ;or tape? feeder- M :is. employed for feeding tape 42 of thermoplastic material between the rolls so that the; tapermay .beused I in forming the r-joint: between: upper: andl'lower sheets 43 and 44 respectively;-alsowfqthermoplastic material under the influence of 1116313. and 45 pressure. The discharge end 45 of-theiztape feeder is disposed-adjacent; the-entrancezzto the .rolls 0 and I Land in' order to foldthe ;tape: l2

intermediate portion is remote-.f-romlthe table :and its sidesaredisposed inopposition to:each

other toward thentable; suchsides; having their edges turned inwardly to form'retainingqflanges --.46:f or the tape. :Thus the tape 42-rwil1 bezfed doubled upon itself between the sealing 'I'OHSIFI t .and I land between the-jportions of which'ztape 42 the aligned edgesrof.thecsuperposedtsheets M and... to ,-be..joined.-. are adapted;;to-.be :recieived.

Thesbindere ll is supported by:anzarmu:41:;to

The bracket is mounted on the'cross member 11. The tape 42 is fed through-the tape' former guide 4| andwhen it emerges from the" discharge end ofthis :tape former, the tape is; folded upon itself =as-shown in'the lower left hand por- :tionof Fig. 5 and is pressed by the'rolls into the compact relation" illustrated inthe upper.- left handportion of .this same figure. 5119611843: and 4 4land the tape- 62- are .of thermoplastic -mate- ,riallandoan-be united by heat and-pressure. ..However, .it hasbeen found that a satisfactory joint is readily obtainable by'the utilization: ofza ..solvent between the surfaces desired tobeunited,

and then the :united surfaces are: subjectediqto to be welded together. The amount of heat and pressure is considerably less when the solvent is used than when it is not used, and when the parts are united with the use of the solvent, the temperature and pressure do not have to be sufficient to effect the integration of the parts without the. solvent. A temperature of'170 has been found adequate when'the sheets and the tape are of relatively thin material.

The tape 42 is mounted on a holder or reel 49 having a backing disc 58 at one side for limiting the lateral movement of the tape so that it will onot accidentallyfslip from the reel and unwind or become entangled. In opposition to the backing disc 55.3 at the other side or" the reel is a re- ..taining strip 5i .which, together with the disc 50, insures the maintenance of the tape on the reel. The strip 5| is secured in place by means of a Wing nut 52.

slnorderztosupply a solvent; to the tape .prior ':.to;its .entry into the tape formera solvent applicator is provided in the form of a Ltank .53 .having a filling :opening 54 at oneend-andran zapplicating medium'55 in the form of acapillary material such as felt or the like. By meanszof this felt or the like liquid is lifted by capillarity and deposited upon the underside of the :tape Has the tape is caused to advance through the tape feeder.

In the use. of the machine'interruption of the rotation of the rolls causes the tape to stops-advancing and: in order to limit the contact'of the tape with the tape moistener.means-'is'provided for lifting or spacing the tape fromthe capillary material. This structure comprises a'lifting arm 55 havinginwardly-projecting opposed sets "of guide extensions-51: and. 58 through Which'the tape travels prior to its entry into thetapefeeder. Lifting arm 56 is mounted in the'shaft 59"journalled in the longitudinal bars lland l8. :'This --.-s1haft.'isheld against lateral moveme'ntzby -set collars 89 disposed in spaced relation-on the shaft between the'bars I! and I8. .iTheZshaftli is adapted to be oscillated to?causeiithexarni bfi tormove upwardly and raiseithetape"from 'contact with the moistener. In orderbto pro'duce oscillation of the 'shaft'SS this'shaft-is' provided with: an adjustable arm 6i connected'by a'Ii'nK EZ onan arm 83 on-the shaft' 'fi l provided with a longer arm 65 adapted to be operated by a link .66 from an arm'fi'l on a treadleshaft' 68, such shaft being rotatable by operation of 'a; treadle 69 to be depressed by the footoi the operator. :In other' words,- depression of the treadle 'fiil lowers: the arm iit into contact:with-'the sblvent applicator 55.

Not only is it; advisable or desirable to separate the tape from the solvent applicator whenthe advance of the tape is interrupted?but it -is also desirable .to release "the pressure"- or the rolls 'on i116 tape when the rolls stop rota'ting,"otherwise the heat and pressure of the rolls mi'ght' damage the tape. Accordingly, the treadlc "movement which startsand stops the rolls"in":addition to operating the linkage which causes" the lift'ing arm to elevate the tape from" the applicaton is. also employed to actuate linkage'for raising-the arm 24 so that the adjustable-weightthereon. and associated parts, will be taken'off the-bearing M. This includes the 1ink66 which-operates the arm 65, which oscillates-theshaft t t-"carrying' a shorter arm 16 connected by link'! I *to an arml2 on a shaft'13 havingon its opposite erid an arm 14 which is engaged by anadjusting screw 15 which threadsthrougha-block lfi. -The block 16 is attached to the arm 24. With this construction when the treadle is depressed the shaft 13 will be rocked to lower the arm 15 and to permit the downward movement of the weighted arm to cause the pin 28 to apply the weight to the bearing [4, shaft l2, and associated roll l0. Thus when the treadle is depressed when the roll is rotating weight will be applied to the roll and the tape will be supplied with moisture by the applicator.

The frame of the machine which supports the rolls in associated parts is of simple construction and carries on its lower portion a motor 11 for driving the rolls, the conveyor, and other driven parts of the machine. The motor 11 receives its energy directly from the main line through conductors l8 and 79, and the energy to the motor is controlled by means of a motor switch 80, located in convenient position at the front 'of the machine. Electrical energy for supplying heat to the heating rolls is provided by leads 8| and 82 and controlled by a roll heating switch 83. The conductors or leads 8| and 82 are connected to spring leads 84 and 85 which resiliently engage the peripheries of contact discs 86 and 8! on the roller shaft l2 for heating the roll l0 and a corresponding set of contacts and discs on the lower shaft I3 for completing the circuit through resistors 2| for heating the roll similar to that shown in my previous patent above mentioned. It will be noted that in the wiring diagram of Fig. 12 there is shown a thermostat T for the heating elements 2| of each roll. However, if desired the heating elements 2| may be connected in series and the temperature thereof controlled by a single thermostat. The thermostats T are mounted directly on the sealing rolls in order to respond readily to any changes of temperature therein.

The motor H by means of a pully 88, V-belt 89, and pulley 96 drives a shaft 9| mounted in suitable bearings 92 on the frame of the machine. On the shaft 9| is mounted a multiple pulley 93 of stepped diameters and which are adapted to selectively receive a belt 94 which drivesa multiple pulley 95 of diameters reversely stepped to those of the pulley 93 thus effecting a variable speed drive. The pulley 95 is freely rotatable on a shaft 96 and is adapted to be clutched to said shaft to drive the same by means of a clutch disc 91 fixed to the shaft provided with a leather or other desired friction contact or surface 98 so that when the pulley 95 is moved against the clutching face the shaft 96 will be driven. The shaft 96 is mounted in suitable bearings 99 on the frame of the machine. In order to produce clutching action, the pulley 95 has a slot Hill for reception of the bifurcated arm Illl of a bell crank lever mounted on a pivot I92 and with its other arm I03 connected to a spring |8 which normally maintains the clutch disengaged. A link I05 is connected to the lower end of an arm I06 fixed to the shaft 64. Thus when the treadle 69 is depressed it will produce oscillation of the treadle shaft 68, the arm 61, and arm 65 throughthe connecting link 66, which arm 65 will oscillate, the shaft 64 and through the arms I66 link 15 and, bell crank lever arms I63 and |6| about the shaft [02 to produce clutching action, and at the same time through the respective linkages render the weight action on the upper roll operative as well as lowering the tape contact with the solvent applicator.

The shaft .96 supplies the power for driving the sealing rolls and the connection therebetween is provided by means of a beveled gear I01 on the end of the shaft 96 which meshes with a beveled gear I08 on the vertical shaft I69 having worms H0 and III which engage and drive gears H2 and H3 mounted on the lower and upper roll shafts l3 and I2, respectively. The shaft I09 has its lower end supported. by bearing H4 on an angle iron strip 5 secured to the frame of the machine, and its upper portion supported by a bearing 6 which is mounted on the connecting member I 8 for the brackets I5 and I6.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the machine consists of a frame on which is mounted a pair of sealing rolls, one above the other, and an adjacent table for the work. The sealing rolls are adapted to be heated to the desired temperature, and the mounting of the upper roll is of a character to permit it to be urged toward the lower roll with a predetermined pressure, depending upon the characteristics of the material treated, including its thickness, hardness, and the like. Normally it is desirable that the upper roll exert pressure on material passing between the rolls only when the rolls are rotated. However, under certain conditions it is desirable that the rotation of the rolls be stopped without releasing the pressure therebetween. An instance of the latter condition occurs when it is desired to unite a second seam with the seam being formed as, for instance, when making a garment such as a raincoat it becomes necessary to unite one piece of material with a seam already formed therein with the material upon which a seam is being formed, which of course means that at the point of intersection of the seams the total thickness of the material is increased by the number of thicknesses occurring at the intersecting seam. It is desirable at this point to stop the rotation of the rolls in order that the seams may be properly located with respect to each other and it is further desirable that pressure between the rolls be maintained in order that the pieces already between the rolls maintain their original relationship. In order to obtain this operation,

the control mechanism for the roll driving clutch and for the pressure applying means is constructed in such a manner that partial release of the treadle 69 will disengage the clutch, thus stopping the rolls, but will not release the pressure producing mechanism, whereas full release of the treadle 69 disengages the clutch and releases the pressure producing mechanism. The construction also includes mechanism for using tape including the applying of a solvent to the tape, folding of the tape upon itself so that it may receive the superposed edges of sheets to be connected by integration of their edges with the folded edges of the tape and without the sheets being directly joined, one to the other. Also the tape is not permitted to remain in contact with the solvent applicator at all times but only during such times as the rolls are rotating and any work between them is advancing. In order to simplify and facilitate the handling of the work or the material to be joined, a table is mounted on the frame adjacent the rolls at substantially the same level, and it may have an extension or apron 30' in front of the rolls to form a support for the work, and is provided with conveyor belts spaced longitudinally across the same and transversely of the frame of the machine so that when the work is fed to the rolls it will be 76 a simple matter to have it carried by the con- *veyors longitudinally of the-table top and transversely of the machine frame.

"The machine is so constructed that its operation is simple, a pair of switches being conveniently located at the front of the machine for supplying electrical energy to the heating rolls as well as to the driving motor and the operating treadle is relatively broad and wide, conv-eniently located for easymanipulation by the foot of the operator, and it is a simple matter to join thermoplastic sheets or other bodies by the application of heat and pressure, the rolls being relatively separable due to the'mounting of the shaft to the upper rolls to permit material of different thicknesses to pass therebetween so limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Seamer rolls,heaters for said rolls, a portable frame supporting said rolls, a motor on said frame for driving said rolls, transmission elements between said motor and said rolls, said transmission elements including first and second shafts rotatably mounted on said frame, a series of pulleys on each of said first and second shafts, the pulleys on said first shaft having stepped diameters, opposite reversely stepped diameters on said second shaft, a belt for transmitting power from one of the pulleys of the first shaft to the proper pulley of the secondshaft, means for'driving said first shaft directly from the motor, means for driving said rolls from said second shaft and including a gear on said second shaft, a clutch member for engaging one of the pulleys on said second shaft for clutching and declutching said gear and pulleys, a second gear engaging said first gear, a worm shaft driven by said second gear, a pair of spaced wormgears on said worm shaft, a gear 'oneach roll shaft driven b said'last-mentioned gear, a bell crank clutch operating lever mounted on, a vertical axis, additional lever means including arms disposed substantially at right angles and mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, a link connecting said levers, a treadle, and a link connecting said treadle with the lever-means disposed onsaid horizontal pivot.

2' -In' combination a pair'of rolls, heating elements for said rolls, a frame supporting said rolls, a motor on said frame for driving said rolls, transmission elements between said motor and said rolls, said transmission elements including first and second shafts rotatably mounted on said frame, a series of pulleys on each of said first and second shafts, the pulleys on said first shaft having stepped diameters, opposite reversely stepped diameters on the pulleys on said second shaft, a belt for transmitting power from one of the pulleys of the first shaft to the proper pulley of the second shaft, means for driving said first shaft directly from the motor, means for driving said rolls from said second shaft and including a gear on said second shaft, a clutch member for engaging one of the pulleys on said second shaft for clutching and declutching said gear and pulleys, a second gear engaging said first gear, a worm shaft driven by said second gear, a pair of spaced worm gears on said worm shaft, a gear on each roll shaft driven by said last mentioned gear, a bell crank clutch operating' lever mounted on a vertical axis, additional lever means including arms disposed substantially at right angles and mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, a link connecting said levers, a treadle, a link connecting said treadle with the lever means disposed on said horizontal pivot, pressure structure for applying pressure between said rolls and means connecting said treadle and said pressure structure whereby upon complete release of said treadle said clutch will be disengaged and said pressure structure will be rendered inoperative thereby relieving pressure between said rolls and whereby upon partial release of said treadle said clutch only will be disengaged, thus stopping rotation of said rolls by maintaining pressure therebetween.

JAMES M. HUMPHREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 993,308 Lamont May 23, 1911 1,734,287 Cornell Nov. 5, 1929 2,097,427 Bergstein Nov. 2, 1937 2,343,975 Hosfield Mar. 14, 194 1 

